Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Addiction (August)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can be an effective tool in treating addiction. In this issue, we talk about the skills modules for DBT, show you how you can use it to treat substance use disorders, and feature an interview with Marsha Linehan, PhD, who talks about her experiences using DBT in her practice.

In This Issue

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is well-known as an effective treatment for individuals with personality disorders and for reducing suicidal behavior. But it’s also quite effective for addictions. In this article, we’ll discuss DBT concepts in a bit more detail and help you apply these concepts to patients with substance abuse issues.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is well-known for treating borderline personality disorder (BPD) and individuals at high risk for suicide. Two studies have shown that DBT has really good outcomes in terms of reducing substance use. In this interview, Dr. Linehan shares her knowledge of DBT as a treatment method for addiction.

Gabapentin is FDA-approved for seizures and neuropathic pain, but it’s commonly used off-label for a variety of psychiatric and physical conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, borderline personality disorder, alcohol use disorders, and multiple pain disorders. Another aspect of gabapentin use that has come to light in recent years is a seemingly pervasive pattern of misuse and abuse.

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Dr. Arnaout is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. He completed medical school at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland; trained in psychiatry at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York, where he also completed the Intensive Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program at the William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis & Psychology. He then trained in addiction psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. He has co-edited two books on addiction psychotherapy that draw on the theoretical framework of motivational interviewing: Handbook of Motivation and Change: A Practical Guide for Clinicians (American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 2010) and Motivational Interviewing in Clinical Practice (American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2017).